FINISHED MORE CHAPTERS THAN I EXPECTED! I SWEAR I'M NOT DOING THIS ON PURPOSE I JUST HAVE MORE TIME THAN I EXPECTED TO HAVE :) THIS IS VERY RARE FOR ME.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC8hu0lmQe 維尼
237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3Pjryu8Gg
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237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5vyn6M9fw
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While semantics and arrangements were being made for the four chosen, Arya spent her time between her friends and Malich. It was no secret they were lovers now that Malich had so boldly exited her chambers a disheveled mess, not that she was ever trying to hide anything.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsezztub8D 維尼
Some whispered about her, others were more blatant with what they thought of her, and many accused her of sleeping her way to a position within the alumni. In response she’d simply invite them to a duel if they felt bold enough. They didn’t and she didn’t care either way.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1xNAbiGpK 維尼
They’d managed to make such uproar, however, that Mekhi and the preceptors had a hard time calming the disciples who weren’t chosen. It’s true, Malich had basically guaranteed her a position if she was to concede, but she’d also earned it. If they were to learn she was the phantom, which they wouldn’t because Malich wouldn’t allow it, they’d understand whyshe’d been chosen.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgtUff4Pd4 維尼
“I still can’t believe you and the Majii,” Lumi smiled in awe.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4r1oAoExD 維尼
“Neither can I, if that makes you feel any better,” Arya smiled back.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡql4AeEK1YT 維尼
“Here’s your medallion.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJgHJ3s9N1 維尼
Arya took the medallion from Lumi’s hand and placed it around her neck. She noticed Lumi eyeing her suspiciously. “What?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdSw03JFdg 維尼
Curious she asked, “Do you know what sigil dons your medallion?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoZi5JhZOj 維尼
Arya looked down at the crest she didn’t recognize and shrugged, “Should I?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AJmFXuTyR 維尼
“It’s the sigil for the Litri dynasty…the Royal House of Litri.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvbNuvBdiH 維尼
“Litri?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKiHK6B8a9 維尼
The name didn’t ring a bell. She’d never heard of the house of Litri. It wasn’t in any of the books she’s read, historic or otherwise. “I don’t recall the house of Litri.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XqMh3AqA8 維尼
“You wouldn’t. It was destroyed either before or around the time you were born and everything in it was wiped from the planes. Occasionally grifters go digging there and come across long lost artifacts. They barter them to those who’d pay a pretty penny for the valuable relics,” Lumi explained. “My father used to work for the house of Litri. He was hand of the King and he paid the price for it. No one dare speaks the Litri name now, especially in the presence of royalty for fear of losing their head.” 8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi7hAhDakY 維尼
“If Litri was a dynasty, what happened to its populace?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pDLvH6RaV 維尼
“Those who weren’t hunted down and killed know better than to show their faces in these parts. My guess is they’re in hiding.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG02TBif6M 維尼
Jax came sauntering over to them and Lumi perked up. That’s new. She ogled Jax like a kid with a shiny new toy. Arya recognized that feeling and wondered if she looked the same whenever she was near Malich. 8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiPC32dDUK 維尼
“Arya,” a deep voice she recognized called to her. Her head whipped in his direction and her slips spread wide into a smile. Malich. She hadn’t expected him.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL8X6cTl2I 維尼
“Best not keep the Majii waiting,” Lumi elbowed her.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡblyHLxKwab 維尼
“Shut it,” Arya blushed. 8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2b2YHFQHz 維尼
Malich nodded to Lumi, Rayu and Dax, who returned his gesture. Arya waved goodbye to her friends and headed to her chambers with the Majii trailing behind. She adds a little twist in her hips knowing he’s watching her every move. When they’re finally alone in her room, she crushes her lips to his, only to have him pull away after a moment, too soon to satisfy her need to drink from his lips.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGHt1RNE7k 維尼
“You’d betterbe dying,” Arya deadpanned.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHIWjO2Zip 維尼
Malich smiled, but his smile never reached his eyes. “The soldiers who came here to attack us, they belong to my family,” Malich confided. 8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡezFPfv9ooq 維尼
That got her attention. Arya backed away searching his eyes for answers and letting his words sink in. Jarrah…as in the house of Jarrah…how she never made the connection baffled her.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2BYM2RbQY 維尼
“You’re a gods damned prince?” she gasped.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡizFLKlfKfk 維尼
“Was,” he shrugged, “I was denounced as a traitor and stripped of all lands and titles.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qsEbPGrhm 維尼
Unable to speak, she eyed him incredulously. “Why would your family want to attack you? What did you do?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UuPGPoSqh 維尼
“Nothing, except win my fathers favor and a target on my back,” Malich sulked. “My oldest brother Kahlem, he framed me for the slaughter of a township he himself butchered. He bought lies with coin and cast my fathers favor elsewhere. I was banished along with Mekhi who was my trainer at the time. I was fifteen cycles. We turned to thieving and we were arrested for it, enslaved and then we escaped. I became a soldier of fortune with Mekhi at my side. That’s how the Red Legion was born.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPQPLncpfR 維尼
This was how the most powerful man in the Redlands came to be. Intrigued, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you telling me this?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnJqn60FGM 維尼
Malich took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I’m telling you because I must broker a peace with them so no more blood will be spilled.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SYj3i628l 維尼
“You’re not doing this because of me, are you?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY4Pnd1xpN 維尼
“It’s no secret I’d paint the world red for you, but this is business…not pleasure.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPfZIqeBxF 維尼
“Again, why are you telling me this? I know you.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UgBlB5f96 維尼
His lips spread into a grin. “I never could get one past you, could I?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGWIvxJ4qO 維尼
“No,” she cocked her head to the side, folding her arms, “And you’re stalling.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PTLFbHTcF 維尼
“Kahlem not only agreed to peace, but he offered to clear my name, give my lands back to me, my fortunes, and my title.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTwtgscR0U 維尼
Something wasn’t right. Why would his brother go through the trouble of taking it all from him just to give it back. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he do that? What does he want in exchange?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmsoCs7gdv 維尼
Malich met her eyes and she felt a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. “He’d like to meet you,” he exhaled.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSaU707O4p 維尼
She got the feeling there was more he wasn’t telling her. “Meaning he wants to see my face so he can kill me when it suits him,” she surmised.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPPzX1L6Oe 維尼
“Precisely,” Malich nodded. “There isn’t a place within the planes you would be able to hide, which is why I’ll be masquerading someone else as my lover.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyB2Nstmkr 維尼
“What?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuSPWnlI8n 維尼
“As an alumni assassin, your identity is your best kept secret. If you wish to maintain your position, no one can know who you are. Keeping that identity a secret is easier to do when you do not have the world watching your every move.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqOTFa6bH9 維尼
It was clever, but she had questions…lotsof questions. “What would this imposter be doing exactly?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DLTcPZEZg 維尼
Malich’s expression became grave and she knew she wouldn’t like what came out of his mouth next. “I’d have to marry her of course and provide heirs.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJ4PL60GUL 維尼
Her hazel eyes flared. “Abso-fucking-lutely not!” She glared at him. “How can you ask such a price of me Malich?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFadOFRbuG 維尼
“Then give up the alumni and rule at my side.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiKlbkRjwH 維尼
“No.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNJfWnpp8n 維尼
“I’m no idiot. This newly extended olive branch from Kahlem is a part of a much larger game Arya, and if I’m to play to win, I mustn’t sit on the sidelines.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwYHqdUaW5 維尼
“So you came to ask for permission to betray me, is that it?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjJBAOM32V 維尼
Eyes downcast, he sighed, “No, I came to ask you to join me or understand.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdHag99hhk 維尼
“I’ll tell you what I understand,” she unsheathed a stiletto from her side and embedded its point into his chest just above his heart, “I understand that if you so much as touch another woman, you’ll be waking up beside her corpse.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcv147y3Ui 維尼
“I don’t have time for your tantrums Arya.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7czJrv2Jw 維尼
Scoffing, she glowered at him, getting in his face so he’d understand that under no circumstances was she joking. “And I will not stand by while you take another woman to bed.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE8YoRdNWs 維尼
Waving his hand, he brushed her stiletto away from his chest. “You don’t have a choice.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsJKGesXKl 維尼
“Really?” She huffed. “You could always turn it down and be content as the king of the Redlands.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnXWqazXEP 維尼
“Touché,” he countered, “but it’s never been enough for me, you know that. I’ve always had my eyes on gaining back that which was taken from me.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuCfcCGp3y 維尼
“At the cost of losingme?” 8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMIjbAFSAA 維尼
“I’d like to hope not, but of course that would be yourchoice, not mine.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡXANMh5uxMF 維尼
Oh Godsshe hated him in this moment. This was one of her fears. Malich was ambitious to a fault and left numerous casualties in his wake as he attempted to regain the power he once lost. She’d hoped he’d be different with her. She’d hoped to matter more.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdFIPIsO6k 維尼
“So that’s it? Agree to be what exactly…you’re mistress…your dirty little secret?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUWYNM30Us 維尼
“Absent a ring my darling,” he twirled a strand of her hair about his finger and smiled, “you arealreadyboth of those things.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQr2ArdPqo 維尼
Arya snapped and slapped him so hard across the face she left a red handprint on his cheek. “How dare you?” She seethed.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7P0fSRHQo 維尼
Unfazed he asked, “Do you agree to it or not? And need I remind you of your pledge to me?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡVClUYPgmsF 維尼
“No, you needn’t remind me, arsehole.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nx5deecQJ 維尼
“I’ll have your answer now then.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqb9FSE8rp 維尼
“You said it yourself, I don’t have a choice,” Arya feigned a smile. She either had to give up her dreams of becoming alumni or tolerate another woman in his life. She’d have to submit.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPHhPva6Su 維尼
“All I’ve ever wanted was to be alumni since I was young. It’s who I am Malich.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9wmMDHLCr 維尼
“Is that your choice then?”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYZhXA06f4 維尼
Choice? What choice?One would never choose to rip out her own heart. This was hisdoing. The illusion of choice couldn’t hide that. “It’s always been my choice.”8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nOvdU8WJZ 維尼
“Then I guess there’s nothing left to say to each other,” he replied, disappointed.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F7C7RNcb1 維尼
Malich leaned closer, their eyes locked in an intense gaze, and he crushed his mouth to hers. As much as she hated him in this moment, she hated herself more. He’d just pierced her heart and yet she still found herself drawn to him…longingfor him. 8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQ5nvmYeZW 維尼
He knocked at the door of her desires and she let him in. Conceding to his touch, she spent the night with him. When she awoke the next morning, he was gone.8964 copyright protection233ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVR3qDmBNn 維尼
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